Second Life: A Communications Tool? IABC – British Columbia, April 16 th 2008 Joanna Robinson Research Associate & Instructor Centre for Digital Media Great Northern Way Campus http://mdm.gnwc.ca

Outline What is Second Life? What do business communicators need to know about Second Life? Intro to the MDM Program @ the Centre for Digital Media, GNWC Our uses of Second Life: Events, Recruitment, and classes - a virtual campus and more What we learned - Some challenges and some strategies for effective Second Life businesses What's next?

What is Second Life?

What do business communicators need to know about Second Life?

Intro to the MDM Program @ the Centre for Digital Media, GNWC

Our uses of Second Life: Events, Recruitment, and classes - a virtual campus and more

What we learned - Some challenges and some strategies for effective Second Life businesses

What's next?

Two locations, one vision Centre for Digital Media Great Northern Way Campus, Vancouver, Canada Wired, powered, modifiable spaces Renovated tractor factory Large 'hangar' space for student projects, green screen Virtual Centre for Digital Media 'University Project' Region, Second Life Fully modifiable, reconfigureable spaces Virtual model of future first life building Student sandboxes, green screen room Grounds & skybox space for projects

Centre for Digital Media

Great Northern Way Campus, Vancouver, Canada

Wired, powered, modifiable spaces

Renovated tractor factory

Large 'hangar' space for student projects, green screen

Virtual Centre for Digital Media

'University Project' Region, Second Life

Fully modifiable, reconfigureable spaces

Virtual model of future first life building

Student sandboxes, green screen room

Grounds & skybox space for projects

Centre for Digital Media (Latitude: 49:16:0.383N, Longitude: 123:5:26.329W)‏

Virtual Centre for Digital Media University Project (150, 84, 23)

Thank You!

Thank You!

Thank You!

Events @ the Virtual Centre for Digital Media: Mixed reality Open House Vancouver Police Department William Gibson book launch CITASA Conference 3.0 2007 Program launch with Premier Campbell MDM Student Showcase – Mixed reality with live DJ Contemporary Art Gallery's 'RSVP' Picnic

Mixed reality Open House

Vancouver Police Department

William Gibson book launch

CITASA Conference 3.0 2007

Program launch with Premier Campbell

MDM Student Showcase – Mixed reality with live DJ

Contemporary Art Gallery's 'RSVP' Picnic

Classes & other activities @ the Virtual Centre for Digital Media: ‘ The Visual Story’ ‘ Building Virtual Worlds’ 'Interdisciplinary Improvisation' Student organized sandbox experimentation and socializing

‘ The Visual Story’

‘ Building Virtual Worlds’

'Interdisciplinary Improvisation'

Student organized sandbox experimentation and socializing

Building Virtual Worlds: Remote Class

What we learned was important Customize your avatar Research what others in your field are doing in SL Join SL groups & start YouTubing SL Machinima Remember when planning activities & spaces – 'reality' need not apply Plan creative, interactive spaces and if possible, SL products or services Consider events Often the reaction to a SL event is more powerful and reaches more people than the event itself

Customize your avatar

Research what others in your field are doing in SL

Join SL groups & start YouTubing SL Machinima

Remember when planning activities & spaces – 'reality' need not apply

Plan creative, interactive spaces and if possible, SL products or services

Consider events

Often the reaction to a SL event is more powerful and reaches more people than the event itself

What's next? For virtual worlds? The 3D web? For the Centre for Digital Media & virtual worlds – use in Building Virtual Worlds & other classes through machinima, virtual environment design, improv activities Remote Masters of Digital Media program in development for 2009

For virtual worlds?

The 3D web?

For the Centre for Digital Media & virtual worlds – use in Building Virtual Worlds & other classes through machinima, virtual environment design, improv activities

Remote Masters of Digital Media program in development for 2009

JoannaTrail Blazer [email_address] http://mdm.gnwc.ca/